23 December 2018

Young people will share their views on whether the next generation feel positively about the future of agriculture and rural life at a fringe event at the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) on 2 January at 4pm.

The closed session – Will there be a next generation? – is being hosted by The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) and the Rural Youth project (RYP). Sponsored by KUHN, the event will focus on the needs, challenges and aspirations of young farming and rural people.

The event comes off the back of a recent Rural Youth Project survey that found 72% of young people living in rural locations feel optimistic about their future, despite the challenges of transport, access to services, employment and connectivity.*

Facilitated by Farmers Weekly columnist and OFC Director Matt Naylor, the session will involve young people sharing positive experiences of being involved in the industry. There will also be an open debate to discuss the future opportunities and what the NFYFC and RYP are doing to encourage greater engagement from young people.

This will be the first time that NFYFC has hosted a fringe event at the OFC, despite YFC members always attending the event through scholarship places. This year Amy Panton from Cumbria FYFC, who attended the Rural Youth Project Ideas Festival in 2018, and Lee Pritchard from Glamorgan FYFC are recipients of two YFC scholarship places through the Worshipful Company of Farmers. Both YFC members will also take part in the fringe event.

Colin Ferguson, a former member of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs and its AGRI and Rural Affairs group, will also take part in the fringe event. Colin, a dairy farmer from the west of Scotland and now part of RYP, sits on the NFU Scotland Next Generation committee and is attending the OFC as an Emerging Leader.

James Hutchinson (pictured), Chair of NFYFC’s AGRI Steering Group and a member of Wiltshire Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, said:

“This fringe event promises to be a lively debate about the future of young people in our farming and rural economies. As well as research findings, we will hear from young people involved in the sector, who will share insights to the challenges they face and the aspirations they have.

“We are looking forward to hosting this event with the Rural Youth Project and exploring ways that we can encourage more young people to be excited about investing their future in the industry and rural life.”

Jane Craigie, co-founder of the RYP said: “The Rural Youth Project aims to support and galvanise young people aged 18-28 to create meaningful change in their rural communities by improving their leadership and enterprise skills.

“We kicked off the project by surveying over 750 young people and were really heartened to discover that 71% of young people living in rural locations feel optimistic about their future despite the trio of woe of poor connectivity, limited employment options and poor access to housing. We are currently planning the next two years of activities, which include leadership training, a series of learning journeys and multiple Ideas Festivals in the UK and further afield.”

Kate Bennett, KUHN’s Marketing and Communications Coordinator, said: 

"KUHN are really excited to be supporting NFYFC and the Rural Youth Project with this fringe event at the Oxford Farming Conference. This session promises to be a highlight at one of the most respected conferences of the year as young farmers will share their experiences and challenges of trying to forge a career in the industry today. KUHN are proud supporters of NFYFC's AGRI Steering Group as part of our commitment to backing the next generation of farmers."

The Fringe Event, Will there be a next generation? is from 4pm on Wednesday 2 January 2019 in Room 11 at the Oxford Farming Conference.

23 December 2018

What do you do when your Club only has four members left? Re-build it of course! Well, that’s what Bridgnorth YFC in Shropshire did and they’re celebrating a bumper Christmas with a membership of 36! After two nights carol singing with tractors decorated in tinsel they raised nearly £1,000 for Prostate Cancer UK. We caught up with Secretary Rebecca Joynt to find out how they got their YFC back in action

1. What made you want to keep going?

We are the oldest club in the county and that swayed a lot of people to stay loyal rather than joining another club

2. How did you grow the club?

There’s a core group of five committee members that are taking a lot of the responsibility. In 2017-18, we had 29 members and won the accolade of being the club that had grown the most, however a lot of them didn’t re-join this year. Our president has done a wonderful job of getting in touch with lots of friends and they have dragged their kids along! Roughly half of our members are juniors. We have really promoted the club events online, with roadsigns and in the paper and have found a new venue.

3. How are you aiming to keep members on board this year?

We’ve really pushed and asked members what activities they want to encourage them to come back. We make a monthly programme and publish it in advance. We also guided two junior teams to enter the county Speaking and Reading competitions – putting on rehearsals so they felt confident and they won the Reading! And their parents were really impressed with the atmosphere/encouragement with other clubs on the day so they’re keen to push their children to do more. The parents have been the key to success with our juniors.

4. Where do you meet?

We now meet at the town’s livestock market. The idea came as the county meetings are held at the Shrewsbury market. Three of our members work at Bridgnorth market so it was easy to get permission and they’re keen to be seen to be supporting the club. We meet 7.30pm on Mondays (but not always at the market). General meetings are the first Monday of the month and we aim to run two nights a month ourselves. We try to combine activities with other clubs to host a few events in a month.

5. How important is the club to the local community?

Shropshire is such a close community of YFC, past and present members. It means you can go to other events and nearly always see a friendly face.

6. What do you recommend other clubs do that are struggling for members?

Stick at it! It’s about getting the right people on the committee with enthusiasm for it. Also definitely worth finding connections with previous generations.

7. What have you learnt from the experience?

Personally, I’ve made lots of connections within the county YFC and have been amazed at the support people are willing to give if you ask for it.

For more advice on growing and running a successful YFC, get advice from NFYFC's handbook The Source. 

06 December 2018

What a festive treat – NFYFC has two pairs (men’s and women’s) of Muck Boots to give away to two lucky YFC members! 

Winners can choose a pair of boots from the full range of quality Muck Boots up to the value of £110.

The Muck Boots story began in 1999 as they set out to create a boot with the sole purpose of enabling those who live, work and play in the most challenging conditions to perform at their highest level, undeterred by the elements.

Muck Boots make premium products born from necessity, not luxury. Every boot in the line keeps you in your comfort zone with 100% waterproof quality. Waterproof, weatherproof, whatever-proof. Muck Boots put proof in every pair!

If you’re in need of a pair of quality, comfy boots, then put your best foot forward and enter NFYFC’s Christmas competition to be in with a chance to win!

HOW TO ENTER

On the competition posts on Facebook and Instagram, just leave a comment on the post stating where you will wear your Muck Boots if you were to win a pair! You'll need to respond before 18 December 2018. 

T&Cs 

1. You must be a registered YFC member on the NFYFC database to win a pair of Muck Boots through this competition.
2. There is one pair of women’s boots to win and one pair of men's boots, up to the value of £110. The winners can choose the style they prefer.
3. There is no cash alternative
4. Winners will be asked to provide a comment and photo to be used on social media. 

06 December 2018

Join NFYFC for a weekend of AGRI discussion and debate with industry guests and young farmers in Derbyshire in February 2019.

The AGRI Steering Group organised event starts with the Take Control of your Future debate on Saturday 9 February at Bakewell Market, followed by evening supper. On Sunday, YFC members will visit Chatsworth Estate farm and shop between 10am until 12 noon.

Accommodation will be available for those travelling and there are options for taking part in the full or partial programme.

Save the date for a great AGRI get together and look out for booking details and further information in the New Year. For more information, contact Sarah Palmer.

06 December 2018

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What do you think the future of farming looks like? Share your views in Certas Energy’s short survey to be in with a chance to win £400 for your Young Farmers Club.  

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06 December 2018

Thirty-nine YFC members have been given once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to experience rural life in a different part of the world in 2019, with the support of the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust.  

The YFC Travel programme is open to all YFC members giving them the chance to apply for one of 15 exclusive trips. Opportunities include working scholarships in New Zealand on a beef, sheep and dairy farm, staying with rural families in Europe, Canada or the USA, team travel with Rural Youth Europe or volunteering in Costa Rica or Sri Lanka.   

Sioned Davies (right), 20, from Pontfraen is off to Canada, supported by the youth organisation Canada 4H, and said she is “over the moon” to be staying with host families in the country.

“It’s the opportunity of a lifetime,” added Sioned who found the NFYFC interview process a positive experience. “It’s a fantastic way to meet everyone.”

Spaces are still available for the volunteering trips to Costa Rica and Sri Lanka. Organised through Projects Abroad UK, these trips are made exclusively for YFC members and have a rural and farming focus to the volunteering opportunities.

There is also one space available for Rural Youth Europe’s Autumn Seminar in Switzerland. The dates and programme are still to be confirmed but the week-long trip will be a chance to meet with young farmers from across Europe and will involve workshops and entertainment.

For more information about YFC Travel contact Erica.Attwood@nfyfc.org.uk

2019 YFC Travel recipients

Austria Elizabeth Chapman, Staffordshire and Robert Faulkner, Warwickshire

Canada JFAO Steph Watkins, Gloucestershire

Canada 4H  

Sioned Davies, Brecknock  and Amanda Watson, Norfolk

Germany  

Charles Kinston, Leicestershire and Rutland and Emily Sparkes, Somerset

Norway  

Oliver Mackintosh, East Riding of Yorkshire

Northern Ireland  

Emily Topham, Derbyshire and Hannah Mason, Herefordshire

Scotland  

Evie Price, Shropshire and Rhiannon Probert, Herefordshire

Montana, USA

Zoe Whittall, Herefordshire

Colorado, USA

Adam Ringrose, Leicestershire

RYE European Rally 

• Team Leader – Liberty Perry, Hereforshire
• Alistair Hughes, Leicestershire
• Olivia Major, Leicestershire
• Rachel Goldie, Yorkshire
• Jessica Armitage, Leicestershire

RYE Study Session

Emily Pincombe, Devon and Millie Etheridge, Oxfordshire 

RYE Autumn Seminar

Two spaces available

Costa Rica 

•  Michael Grigg, Staffordshire
• Amy Nicholls, Staffordshire
• Bethan Jenkins, Pembrokeshire
• Flossie Littlefair - Vernon, Shropshire
• Lauren Bowe, Cumbria
• Lydia Hopper, Devon
• Gemma Mooney, Leicestershire and Rutland
• Megan Moore, Leicestershire and Rutland

Sri Lanka

• Hazel Stansfield, Lancashire
• Lydia Freeman, Essex
• Hannah Martin, Dorset
• Lauren Bates, Leicestershire
• Rebecca Hawkey, Cornwall
• Verenique Beviere, Oxfordshire

C Alma Baker, New Zealand

• April-August, 2019 Cerys Baker, Gwent
• July-November, 2019 Patrick Rich, Somerset
• Oct 2019-February 2020 Sophie Tamblyn, Cornwall
• Jan-May 2020 Marged Jones, Ceredigion